Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2163 by Nicol Stephen on 8 October 2003, when it now expects the research recommended by the Blue Badge review to be concluded.

Nicol Stephen: We are presently in discussions with the Department for Transport regarding the timetable for this research, and would like to see it completed as soon as possible.

Culture

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to promote and mark the Scottish Year of Homecoming in 2009 and whether any such plans include holding or supporting particular events.

Mr Frank McAveety: A group chaired by the Scottish Executive has been established with several partners to develop a strategy which will help us to maximise the opportunities for tourism and the promotion of Scotland that the iconic status of Robert Burns could provide. Plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2009 are still at a very early stage but it is hoped that the programme for the Year of Homecoming will include a range of events and activities which will engage people as widely as possible.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for a new multi-arts performance centre in Glasgow.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive has no current plans for a new performing arts venue in Glasgow or elsewhere.

Equine Industry

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what input its Environment and Rural Affairs Department will have into the national equine database.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive will ensure that the Scottish Horse Passport Issuing Organisations can provide information to the national equine database on the same basis as that provided by English and Welsh horse passport issuing organisations.

Ferry Services

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages there are in a road equivalent tariff scheme for transport costs to and from island communities.

Nicol Stephen: A road equivalent tariff scheme would generate significant additional subsidy costs, which could be funded only by displacing high-priority transport projects. We have no current plans to introduce ferry fares based on road equivalent tariffs.

Freedom of Information

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what HM Treasury guidance or guidelines it, or any of its agencies, has received in connection with commercial confidentiality; when the latest edition of such guidance or guidelines was received, and whether it will publish such guidance or guidelines.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has not received guidance from HM Treasury in connection with commercial confidentiality. The Executive’s current policy on handling commercially sensitive information is contained within the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information , which was introduced in 1999 and updated in June 2003. This code is similar to the Cabinet Office’s Code of Practice on Access to Government Information , which came into effect in 1994 and was revised in 1997.

  The code, which applies to agencies within the Scottish Executive and to functions carried out on behalf of the Scottish Executive or public bodies by contractors, is published on the Executive’s website.

  From 1 January 2005, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will apply, and this will govern the processes to be applied when dealing with commercial confidentialities. Requests to disclose such information will be made on a case by case basis. This act will replace the code of practice. Westminster has legislated separately for the rest of the UK.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8018 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 May 2004, how the decision of the High Court is intimated to the accused in such circumstances and what action is taken to take the accused into custody where the appeal is against a custodial sentence.

Cathy Jamieson: In applications to the High Court for leave to appeal, it is the responsibility of the Clerk of Justiciary to notify without delay the appellant or his solicitor and the Crown Agent of the High Court’s decision and, where leave has been refused, the reasons for that decision.

  Where leave is refused, and the appellant is on bail and the sentence imposed on his conviction was one of imprisonment, the High Court must grant a warrant to apprehend and imprison him. The enforcement of the warrant would be a matter for the police.

Justice

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7501 by Colin Boyd QC on 10 May 2004, what action is being taken to seize assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in respect of crime relating to alcohol and cigarettes.

Colin Boyd QC: The Criminal Confiscation Unit and the Civil Recovery Unit have undertaken an extensive training programme to raise awareness of the new powers amongst law enforcement agencies and to encourage suitable referrals which includes crimes relating to alcohol and cigarettes.

  Since my answer to question S2W-7501 on 10 May 2004, one case relating to the importation of cigarettes has been reported by Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise for restraint. A Restraint Order was granted at Glasgow sheriff court on 2 June 2004. The value of the assets restrained is approximately £40,000.

  The sum of £13,675.36 relating to contraband cigarettes is currently detained in one case under the cash seizure provisions Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Since my answer to question S2W-7501 on 10 May 2004, however, no assets have been seized in respect of crime relating to alcohol and cigarettes.

  The Civil Recovery Unit considers cases which are referred to it by law enforcement agencies through the Criminal Confiscation Unit. The unit assesses referrals for suitability against the statutory criteria set out in Part 5 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Languages

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the EU accession countries' languages are taught in schools.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. However, we know that as part of the SOCRATES Comenius 1 Programme, 26 schools and four further education colleges in Scotland have developed partnerships with schools in 11 EU accession countries.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are in place for women in the west end of Glasgow to access maternity care should the Queen Mother’s Hospital be closed as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is in the first instance a matter for Greater Glasgow NHS Board. However, I would expect Greater Glasgow NHS Board to address any access concerns identified in the consultation exercise.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether women in the west end of Glasgow will have a choice of maternity care should the Queen Mother’s Hospital be closed as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I consider that choice should be central to any reorganisation of maternity services and I expect choices to be provided regarding care options and place of delivery.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that clinical research at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children will not be affected by the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I would expect that the networks and collaboration that exist between NHS and academic staff across Glasgow will continue.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns that mothers across Scotland may be separated from sick new-born babies as a result of the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I am considering this issue as part of my wider consideration of the board's proposals.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of stay has been for mothers delivered of babies at the Queen Mother’s Hospital in each year since 1999.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of stay has been for mothers delivered of babies at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow in each year since 1999.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of stay has been for mothers delivered of babies at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow in each year since it opened.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSiS - Mean Stay Per Episode1; Obstetric Specialty: Years Ending 31 March 2000-04

  

 
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004P


 Queen Mother's
 3.1
 3
 2.9
 2.8
 2.8


 Southern General
 3
 2.8
 2.6
 2.4
 2.3


 Glasgow Maternity
 2.9
 2.6
 2.8
 2.9
 2.8



  Source: ISD Scotland [Form ISD(S)1].

  Reference: ISD/ACIG/IR2004-01653.

  Date: 04/06/04.

  PProvisional.

  Note:

  1. Derived as total occupied bed days/in-patient episodes.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are issued concerning the length of stay for mothers delivered of babies at maternity hospitals.

Malcolm Chisholm: A Framework for Maternity Service in Scotland , published in 2001, sets out a vision and philosophy for maternity services which provides women with high quality, accessible and responsive maternity care.

  The framework makes it clear that health professionals should adopt a flexible and evidence based approach to post-natal care, working in partnership with women. The duration of a post-natal hospital stay should be individualised, using clinical judgement, to meet the specific needs of the mother and baby. It should be reinforced by a comprehensive support service in the community after discharge. There are no specific guidelines issued for post-natal hospital stay.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for the Yorkhill NHS Trust pharmacy department following the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I would expect NHS Greater Glasgow to take into account the points raised by the Area Pharmaceutical Committee in any reconfiguration of maternity services.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what accommodation arrangements are in place for staff of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, currently accommodated in the Queen Mother’s Hospital, should the Queen Mother’s Hospital close as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I would expect these issues to be fully explored in the detailed planning and implementation phase of any reconfiguration of maternity services.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be made for births and post-natal care for mothers whose babies require to be transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children as a result of the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I would expect Greater Glasgow NHS Board to address this issue in any reconfiguration of maternity services.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional training will be required for staff transporting sick babies as a result of the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: The report of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services (2002) makes it clear that professionals at all levels of maternity care must have appropriate skills and competences for the service they provide. They should have access to regular continuing professional development opportunities to equip and maintain the competencies and skills they need to provide high quality, safe maternity care.

  It will be for NHS Greater Glasgow to ensure that staff have appropriate skills and receive appropriate training to maintain a high quality of maternity and neonatal care in any reconfiguration of maternity services.

  There is a pan-Scotland specialist neonatal intensive care transport service based on three regional locations in the north of Scotland, west of Scotland and south east Scotland. Also with increased antenatal care and diagnosis of foetal abnormality, planned neonatal transfers between units can be carried out so that emergency neonatal transports are minimised.

Maternity Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the decision not to have neonatologists on site at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children should the Queen Mother’s Hospital be closed as part of plans for the reconfiguration of maternity services in Greater Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: As part of my wider consideration of the proposals, I will examine how the proposals address the issue of neonatologist support at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Minimum Wage

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of how many employers do not pay the national minimum wage and what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on the establishment of mechanisms to monitor the prevalence of this practice and intervene to prevent its occurrence.

Mr Jim Wallace: National minimum wage is a reserved matter. Statistical information is held by Inland Revenue who have mechanisms in place to monitor compliance with the national minimum wage requirements.

NHS Finance

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8040 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 May 2004, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs of (a) management and administration staff paid on the A&C scale up to grade 4, (b) management and administration staff on the senior managers' scale, (c) management and administration staff at grade 5 and above and (d) external consultancy and temporary adviser appointments in each year from 1995 to 2003 broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information required to provide a breakdown of management and administration staff costs by grades is not collected by the Health Department. It is therefore not possible to provide the analysis of costs requested.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it values the model of care currently provided by the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Queen Mother’s Hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: Yes.

Places of Worship

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8162 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 May 2004, whether there is still funding available from the sum referred to in the answer for security improvements to places of worship and what plans it has to make further funding directly available to places of worship that either did not receive any of the original funding or require further strengthening of their security provisions.

Cathy Jamieson: The funding referred to in the answer given to question S2W-8162 was made available as one off funding in the light of the events of 11 September 2001. All monies were allocated in 2002 and the fund was closed to further applications. The Community Safety Partnership Award Programme distributes £4 million each year between the 32 local authorities. This can be used for local community safety or crime prevention priorities as identified by the local authority community safety partnership.

Ports and Harbours

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consents are required if a former port is to be reinstated.

Nicol Stephen: Any additional powers required by a harbour authority beyond those in the original establishing legislation of the port would be conferred by a Harbour Order under the Harbours Act 1964. Such an order would be required for the purposes of reconstituting a harbour authority.

Postal Services

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with Her Majesty’s Government on returning any postal services to rail.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including Royal Mail’s decision to end the delivery of mail by rail.

  I understand that Royal Mail are in on-going discussions with GB Railfreight and are seeking to finalise a workable solution for a return to rail. Royal Mail hope to conclude their considerations by the end of June.

Prisoner Escorts

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken was to escort prisoners to their destination in each case where a prisoner was released in error by Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available and is not the subject of routine logging.

Public Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has agreed to provide towards the proposed footbridge over the River Nith at Troqueer and whether the availability of this funding is time-limited.

Nicol Stephen: The proposed cycle and footbridge is part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Dumfries Southern Sector Access Strategy project, which was awarded an overall total of £1.785 million in 2001 from the Public Transport Fund. Estimates at the time indicated that the bridge would cost £650,000. As is the case for all projects supported by the Public Transport Fund, discussions will need to be held with the council if individual elements are, for whatever reason, unable to be implemented on time.

Public Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if Dumfries and Galloway Council's proposals for a footbridge over the River Nith at Troqueer are rejected under section 75 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, funding for other projects in the region will be lost and, if so, which projects will be affected.

Nicol Stephen: The proposed cycle and footbridge is part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Dumfries Southern Sector Access Strategy project, which was awarded an overall total of £1.785 million in 2001 from the Public Transport Fund. Estimates at the time indicated that the bridge would cost £650,000. As is the case for all projects supported by the Public Transport Fund, discussions will need to be held with the Council if individual elements are delayed or unable to be implemented.

Rail Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the precise capacity increase will be in the maximum and optimum number of trains able to access Waverley Station per hour following the upgrade of the station; whether the upgraded station will allow all of the proposed new lines to access the station at the level of service proposed, and whether it is anticipated that further capacity increase will be necessary once the upgrade of the station has been completed and, if so, when such future capacity will be addressed and what the cost and extent of such works are likely to be.

Nicol Stephen: Current peak capacity at Waverley Station accommodates 24 trains per hour from the west and 12 from the east. On completion of the Phase 1 project that would increase to 28 trains per hour from the west, providing sufficient capacity to accommodate the new rail services from our Partnership Agreement commitments. Network Rail is now taking forward detailed design and development of the first phase of the project. It is likely that future development of other proposals that involve additional trains at Waverley would require an increase in station capacity. It is not possible to predict the details, including costs, of these proposals nor how many proposed extra services would be accommodated at the station.

Rape

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1F-1882 by Mr Jack McConnell on 9 May 2002, how often guidance to police forces is updated on (a) any innovations in detection and identification of date rape drugs and (b) best practice in dealing with victims of drug rape in order to maximise the ability to secure convictions.

Cathy Jamieson: In 2002 the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) issued Drug Assisted Sexual Assault - Guide for Investigators to Scottish Police Forces. The guide is subject to annual review. In addition, advice on new and emerging trends concerning Drug Assisted Sexual Assault (DASA) is disseminated to forces as and when required by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.

  A presentation on DASA was also delivered a recent ACPOS Drugs Conference in March 2004, where delegates heard expert testimony on this subject.

  ACPOS recognise the need to standardise the way forces collect forensic evidence during investigations of DASA and, after extensive consultation, new forensic evidence sampling kits specifically designed and developed for use in the investigation of such assault are in the final stages of development.

Renewable Energy

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm developments are in the process of obtaining planning permission, stating (a) their location, (b) the name of the operating company and (c) the size of the development.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: This information is available on the Scottish Executive’s website at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/about/ELLD/EN-CS/00017058/page1711523477.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to review National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments, in particular in respect of the establishment and operation of wind farms.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive’s Review of Strategic Planning: Conclusions and Next Steps set an indicative programme for reviewing all national planning guidance. A review of NPPG 6 is scheduled for 2006.

Residential Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why local authority care homes are allocated between £150 and £200 per person per week more than care homes in the independent sector.

Mr Tom McCabe: Local authorities are required under Section 22 of the National Assistance Act 1948 to set gross fees for local authority care home places at an amount equivalent to the full cost to the authority of providing them.

Scotland the Brand

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are in relation to the announcement by the board of directors of Scotland the Brand that it would recommend that the company be put into voluntary liquidation at a general meeting on 21 April 2004; what discussions it has had, at ministerial or official level, with representatives of Scotland the Brand about this matter, and whether it has any plans to fund a logo or brand to promote Scotland overseas.

Mr Jim Wallace: The decision by Scotland the Brand Ltd to go into voluntary liquidation is a matter for the company itself and has no impact on the research work currently underway into Scotland’s international image. No decisions have yet been taken about the shape a new promotional campaign might take. Scottish Enterprise retain ownership of the Country of Origin device used by Scotland the Brand, and have confirmed that fully paid up members will be allowed to continue the use of the device.

  Both the Chairman and Chief Executive of Scotland the Brand have been in regular contact with officials about the future of the company and the promotion of Scotland’s international image. The Chairman of Scotland the Brand has also had a number of discussions with ministers on these issues.

Security Industry

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Serious Crime Squad in respect of the report on the security industry on Frontline Scotland on 18 May 2004.

Cathy Jamieson: My officials have discussed the Frontline Scotland programme with Strathclyde Police who are responsible for operational policing in Glasgow. It is for the police to investigate allegations of criminal activities and to take action as appropriate.

Sexual Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the 16% rise in Chlamydia and 40% rise in genital herpes between 2002 and 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: The proposed National Sexual Health Strategy, which has been the subject of consultation, will address the rise in sexually transmitted infections, which include Chlamydia and genital herpes.

  Healthy Respect, the health demonstration project in Lothian, has developed a Chlamydia testing programme which makes an innovative postal testing kit available free at music stores, pharmacies and other retail outlets to promote and facilitate testing for infection. To date, 10,000 testing kits have been distributed.

  More generally, NHS Health Scotland has a range of activities on sexual health across all its programme areas, including a high profile TV campaign, which targets teenagers to warn of the increasing risk of sexually transmitted infections in Scotland.

Skye Bridge

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8107 by Nicol Stephen on 21 May 2004, on what statutory basis organisations, other than the road authority or a concessionaire with lawfully assigned powers, are permitted to demand or collect tolls on the Skye Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: No other organisations are permitted to demand or collect tolls on the Skye Bridge unless operating as contractors or agents.

Skye Bridge

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8105 by Nicol Stephen on 21 May 2004, in what sense it considers the toll regime for the Skye Bridge to be "discredited."

Nicol Stephen: Ministers regard the toll regime for the Skye Bridge to be "discredited" in every sense.

Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of "navigable waters" is.

Nicol Stephen: Navigable waters are referred to in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as such navigable waters (whether the sea, a river or other waters) as may be specified in a particular order or scheme.

Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is required to be consulted in respect of applications under section 75 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 for the construction of a public road over navigable waters and what alternative procedures there are if organisations requiring to be consulted have ceased to exist.

Nicol Stephen: There is no consultation requirement in respect of a bridge scheme promoted under s.75 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. However, notice of the making of the scheme (and a copy of the scheme and any relevant map or plan) must be served on every navigation authority concerned with or having jurisdiction over the waters affected by the scheme, and on Scottish Water.

  There are no alternative procedures to be followed if the organisations in question have ceased to exist. However, Scottish ministers must be satisfied that the reasonable requirements of navigation have been taken into account when considering such schemes.

Transport

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposals for roads have been rejected by it under section 75 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 since 1 July 1999.

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many public inquiries have been initiated as a result of applications under section 75 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 since 1 July 1999.

Nicol Stephen: None.